Ann Romney

Whatever You Choose to Be

For today’s twenty-somethings the possibilities and opportunities are exhilarating, limitless and sometimes confusing with no clear-cut paths for the major life choices one must make after college graduation. In this new gift book, inspired by a commencement speech she gave in 2014, the former First Lady of Massachusetts and wife of 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Read More…

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Ann Romney places primary importance on her role as a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. As First Lady of Massachusetts, she worked to focus attention on the challenges facing at-risk youth and served as the Governor’s Liaison to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998, she has volunteered much of her time to raise awareness of the disease. She and her husband, Mitt, celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this year. They have five sons, five daughters-in-law, and twenty-two grandchildren.

For today’s twenty-somethings the possibilities and opportunities are exhilarating, limitless and sometimes confusing with no clear-cut paths for the major life choices one must make after college graduation. In this new gift book, inspired by a commencement speech she gave in 2014, the former First Lady of Massachusetts and wife of 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Ann Romney puts forth eight key life lessons, the pieces of advice she wishes someone had given her when she graduated college.

The eight life lessons are Ann Romney’s candid and inspirational words of wisdom with stories and examples gathered from her life’s journey through adversity and success with windows of insight from the many people who have inspired, encouraged and influenced her in her public and private life.

Excerpt:

Do Your Present Job Well

It may come as a surprise that working on a political campaign is far from a cushy, high-status job. Desks are shared, space is cramped, and pay is modest at best. That said, some highly capable young people sign on to a campaign for the experience. And those who go to work-who don’t chafe about the pay and the hours, and who excel at whatever job they’re given-really stand out.

During Mitt’s 2012 presidential campaign, Garrett Jackson signed on as Mitt’s “body man.” Not a very prestigious job or title. In addition to providing security and running interference in a crowd, Garrett arranged for things like Mitt’s peanut-butter sandwiches and the towels he used to wipe off the perspiration. He did his job so well-never complaining, never losing his cool, always being gracious to people around him-that when the campaign was over, one of the campaign finance chairmen hired Garrett into one of the most selective and sought-after private sector positions in the field of finance.

I know there are self-help books that tell you to plan every step of your career. That may work for some people. But Mitt and I lived by his dad’s counsel. We never could have imagined where our life’s course would lead-we simply did the very best we could in the job at hand.